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The EAIC (European Association of Innovation Consultants) welcomes the release of the “Align, Act, Accelerate” report, the European Commission’s Expert Group report on FP10. It offers a forward-thinking and insightful perspective on some of Europe’s key research and innovation challenges while presenting innovative proposals to address them. We are encouraged by its comprehensive approach, and we value the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing discussions on shaping the future of European research and innovation policy.
Increasing the Budget for FP10 One of the most significant takeaways from the report is its confirmation of what Europe’s research and innovation community has long supported: that the budget for the next Framework Programme should be dramatically increased and ringfenced to ensure the continuity of critical research initiatives. The EAIC fully supports this recommendation and stresses the need for robust investment in research, development, and innovation (RDI) to ensure that Europe remains competitive on the global stage. Simplification of Processes The EAIC strongly agrees with the report’s emphasis on simplifying the application process across funding programs. In our recently released position paper on FP10, EAIC members have put forward several concrete proposals to streamline procedures and reduce administrative burdens for applicants.
In this spirit, we commend the report’s focus on stimulating dialogue around simplifying future framework programs and believe these steps are necessary to make the programs more accessible and manageable for applicants of all sizes. However, we stress that simplification must not come at the expense of excellence, efficient use of resources, and appropriate reporting, which are critical for collaborative work and knowledge production. These elements remain key to ensuring the high standards of European research and innovation projects: AI Integration in Proposal Writing and Evaluation We support the report’s focus on using AI to streamline proposal writing and evaluation, as it has the potential to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency and consistency. However, past attempts to integrate AI, such as in the EIC Accelerator, have shown mixed results, highlighting the need to balance efficiency with avoiding algorithmic bias. AI use must remain transparent and adhere to strict ethical guidelines, as outlined in the EIC Accelerator Code of Conduct for consultants, which the EAIC contributed to. Likewise, the EAIC, in its paper on FP10, has welcomed the use of AI, but only with strict adherence to all relevant regulations, including GDPR. Every stakeholder involved in the EU grant and tender process must ensure that AI respects proprietary and confidential information and that no data used by AI tools can directly or indirectly identify applicants. This applies to all aspects of European RDI projects, from project design to communication and dissemination. Trust-First, Evaluate-Later Model The proposal in Section 9 of the report, which suggests moving toward a "trust-first, evaluate-later" model, has great potential to reduce administrative overhead and make the application process more user-friendly, particularly for smaller organizations. However, we believe it is crucial to implement strong oversight mechanisms to safeguard against potential mismanagement. A trust-based model can only thrive if there are checks and balances to ensure that trust is not misused. With appropriate safeguards, this approach could lead to more agile and inclusive research funding. The Role of Innovation Consultants The EAIC supports much of the report’s recommendations but believes that the discussion of transaction costs and the role of innovation consultants requires additional nuance. For instance, applicants do not rely on consultants solely due to the complexity of the application process. In reality, innovation consultants offer value for many other reasons. For example, they provide coaching and support that helps clients think through and improve the innovativeness of their projects. Consultants can also play a critical role in project management, helping to align large consortia of researchers from different countries and backgrounds. Furthermore, the external perspective they bring helps research organizations and companies sharpen their project strategies and maximize their chances of success. Contrary to increasing transaction costs, consultants often help reduce them. For organizations without the resources to hire full-time funding specialists, external consultants provide targeted expertise on an as-needed basis. The European Commission itself highlighted the value of consultants in its Ex post evaluation of Horizon 2020 which states: "The involvement of consultancies in the application process further points to economies of scale in proposal writing. Consultancies invest the hassle cost of finding relevant information and getting to know the structure of the framework programme, the rules and procedures, and may have practical experience on how to apply for it. Using this human capital adds value to the consortium for which they are compensated. Specializing certain tasks to external firms may be the most efficient way for applicants to organize themselves." Conclusion Overall, the “Align, Act, Accelerate” report represents an important step toward addressing the various challenges within the European research and innovation landscape. While the EAIC supports the vast majority of the report's recommendations, we believe that some aspects, such as the role of innovation consultants, would benefit from further nuance. We look forward to continuing the dialogue and contributing to shaping a more innovative and competitive Europe. Contact: Paul Walsh EAIC Secretary General 0032486744337, [email protected]
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